The University of Tulsa is an NCAA Division I member for all sports and a member of the American Athletic Conference. TU moved into The American on July 1, 2014 after dominating Conference USA with more than double the number of league championships than any other conference school in nine years as a C-USA member.

Since the opening of the Donald W. Reynolds Center in 1998, Tulsa’s athletic facilities have undergone a major facelift. New facilities include the Michael D. Case Tennis Center, the Collins Family Softball Complex, the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium, the J. Bird Sr. Shell Nest, the Jack Zink Indoor Rowing Center, the Case Athletic Complex and major renovation to H.A. Chapman Stadium.

Tulsa, Oklahoma - Clay Sears was one of the most productive tight ends in school history last year with 37 receptions for 469 yards and seven touchdowns, but has since graduated. Although the players are young, the tight end position will once again be a critical part of the Hurricane passing game.

Tulsa's tight end corps has four players in the mix for playing time, but all four are lacking collegiate experience at the position. Junior Cody Wilson is the only tight end candidate who has playing experience, but that came on defense and special teams over the last two years.

Sophomore Charlie Copa, a transfer from Syracuse University, goes into the season planning to take up the slack left by the loss of Sears, and is the starter going into Saturday's season opener at Iowa State.

"Charlie has had a great camp after a great summer. He came off of a red-shirt year because of a transfer, so we didn't have much of a chance to see him operate in our offense. He's improved his flexibility and strength. He has become a great asset. He does some great things in the running game and his pass route running has improved immensely thus becoming an integral part of our passing attack," said Tight Ends Coach Scott Downing.

Wilson made the switch from linebacker last spring and has provided a great shot in the arm for the Hurricane offense with his ruggedness and blocking ability, while Colby Scott is coming off of a knee injury. True freshman Tyler Wilson has a bright future and coaches are hopeful to red-shirt the six-foot, seven-inch athlete.

"We're thin at tight end, but in addition to Charlie we also have Colby Scott, who is coming off a knee injury, and have Cody Wilson and Tyler Wilson. We don't have quite the depth we had last year, as we played 95-percent of the time with a tight end on the field. I think we'll have just as big an impact on the game this year as we did last year at the tight end position," added Downing.